Put aside the rumors of Richard Pitino leaving for greener pastures. The Gophers men’s basketball coach signed a contract extension today.
Pitino’s current contract runs through the 2020-21 season and the extension keeps him locked up through the 2022 season. Details on the money haven’t been released.
Pitino turned the Gophers into a Big Ten contender this past season and their 16-game turnaround was the biggest improvement from one season to the next in Big Ten history. Minnesota went 8-23 in 2015-16 and improved to 24-10 before bowing out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against 12-seed Middle Tennessee.
Had doubts about Richard Pitino after 2015-16 season, but he erased them and then some in 2016-17. https://t.co/6wadzOF3J5
— Tom Oates (@TomOatesWSJ) May 3, 2017
The winning earned Pitino the Big Ten Coach of the Year award in just his third season on the Minnesota bench.
With pretty much the entire roster set to return, the Gophers are already projected as a top 25 team next season.
